Seat or bench structure for bowling alleys



June 1, 1943. A. L.'HENKEL ETAL SEAT 0R BENCH STRUCTURE FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed June 24, 1940 4 INVENTOR. ancbtzz/iiflezzke BY .520" M15 10 haxgm 59$? Patented June 1, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEAT OR BENCH STRUCTURE FOR BOWLING ALLEYS of Delaware Application June 24, 1940, Serial No. 342,069

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a seat structure adapted for various uses but especially designed for use in conjunction with bowling alleys.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and substantial seat or bench which can be economically manufactured and easily in stalled in the position of use.

Another object is to supply a seat unit which can be secured in fixed position on a floor and which is so designed as to present no corners or pockets for the accumulation of dirt or refuse, thus rendering the structure easy to clean.

A further object is to provide a seat structure or bench adapted especially for the use of players in a bowling alley and affording space and retaining means for the storage of bowling balls.

And it is also an object of the invention to provide a seat structure which includes a seat member and upright supporting frames therefor, each frame having upright members extending from a horizontal platform panel which is spaced below the seat member by a suitable distance to provide storage space for bowling balls, and which includes a groove or channel arranged to support and confine a bowling ball in the space under the seat between adjacent uprights.

It may be understood that the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, and that the embodiment shown in the drawing and described herein is by way of preferred illustration only. It is not the intention to limit the invention thereto or thereby, but rather to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a three-quarter perspective view of a seat structure embodying this invention,

Figure 2 is a partial front elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken substantially as indicated at line 33 on Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail plan section taken as indicated at line 44 on Figure 3.

In the use of bowling alleys, and particularly in connection with team or league play, it is desirable and important to provide convenient seating arrangements for the several players so that the approaches to the alley may be clear except for the presence of those actually engaged in bowling. And especially during change of shifts, in leage bowling, it is desirable to provide a place for the ball, preferably in close association with the players who are to use it and where it will be retained until needed. The seat structure of this invention fulfills both requirements.

As shown in Figure 1, the seat unit of this invention is in the form of a bench comprising a continuous or unitary seat and back rest I of suitable contour, which may be constructed of any convenient sheet material but is preferably formed of laminated wood or ply wood. The part I is supported on upright frames 2 disposed at intervals in its length and constructed in accordance with the usual wood-working practice. These frames include horizontal seat-supporting members 3, vertical leg portions 4 and E- at the front and rear of the seat respectively, and bottom bars 6 connecting the leg portions at their lower ends. These seat units may be installed as separate sections, or may be joined end to end, in any desired arrangement; hence, it may be understood that the end frames of each section may extend in planes at right angles to the front edge of the seat l or obliquely thereto, depending upon the desired form of the complete assembly of units. But, in any case, each unit includes a base or platform slightly elevated from the level of the supporting floor and formed by closely fitted planks or by an integral panel, indicated at 1, extending over the upper edges of the bottom bars 6 of the several supporting frames, and fitted around the uprights or leg portions 4 and 5 so as to extend flush with the front and rear edges of the frames. The platform or base structure is completed by a front rail 8 and a back rail 9, which extend vertically flush with the front and rear edges of the horizontal panel I of the p1atform.

This platform design not only braces the supporting frames and affords a solid and sturdy structure but it provides tie members between the frames without forming exposed pockets or corners next to the floor, in which dirt and refuse might accumulate, and which would be difiicult to clean. With the bottom bars 6 and front and back rails 8 and 9 extending into contact with the floor surface, the space under the platform panel I is enclosed on all sides, and the plain upright members 4 and 5 rise directly from the surface of the platform, as seen in Figure 1. Thus it is a simple matter to mop or dust the surface of the panel 1 and the adjacent exposed faces of the front and back rails 8 and 9 and of the bottom members 6, if the ends of the bench are exposed.

Quite commonly a bowler brings his own ball, or selects a particular ball for his individual use throughout a game or series of games. To enable him to keep the ball conveniently accessible and yet out of the way between plays the platform panel "I of the bench structure is formed with a shallow groove or trough [0 extending parallel to the front edge of the base or platform; the front and rear edges of this groove provide parallel features constituting a rack or runway spaced back from said edge of the platform far enough so that when a bowling ball, such as that indicated at A in Figures 3 and 4, is lodged in the trough 10, it will not project too far forward in relation to the seat, but will still be within easy reach when wanted. As shown, the groove or trough I0 extends just back of the uprights 4 of the several seat-supporting frames, and since the width of the trough I0 is only a fraction of the diameter of the ball A the latter will overlap said uprights 4 and be stopped by them if it starts to roll along the trough [0. Thus the ball is confined between two adjacent uprights and within easy reach of the player occupying this portion of the bench.

It may be understood that additional structural features will be employed for rigidly connecting the supporting frames 2 with the seat and back panel, or in reinforcing the base structure, if desired, but that such features may be in accordance with known and established practice, and need not be described in detail for the purpose of this invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. A seat structure including a seat member with upright supporting frames therefor, each frame having upright members with a horizontal bottom bar connecting them, and a platform panel extending over said bottom bars at a distance below the seat member affording space for the storage of bowling balls, said platform panel having a trough or groove extending substantially parallel to its front edge dimensioned to receive and guide a bowling ball in said space.

2. A seat structure including a seat member with upright supporting frames therefor, each frame having front and rear upright members with a horizontal bottom bar connecting them, and a platform panel fitted over said bottom bars at a distance below the seat member providing space for the storage of bowling balls, said panel having a trough or groove extending parallel to its forward edge and dimensioned to receive and guide a bowling ball in said space, said trough being disposed closely adjacent the forward uprights of the frames whereby said uprights serve as stops to check the movement of a ball along the trough so that a ball lodged thereon is confined between adjacent upright supports of the seat structure.

3. A seat structure including a seat member with upright supporting frames therefor, each frame having front and rear upright members with a horizontal bottom bar connecting them, front and back rails connecting said upright members, and a platform panel fitted over said rails and bottom bars, said rails and bars fitting close to the floor to enclose the space below the platform panel, and the panel having a trough or groove dimensioned to receive and guide a bowling ball, said groove extending substantially parallel to the front edge of the panel and adjacent the rear edges of the forward upright members whereby said uprights act as stops to confine a ball lodged in the trough be tween adjacent upright supports of the seat structure.

4. A seat structure including a seat member with upright supports therefor, a platform panel extending between said uprights at a plane above the floor and below the said member and providing a forwardly open space under the seat unobstructed at the forward edge of said platform, and means adjacent the front edge of the platform closing the space between said platform and the floor, the platform having a shallow groove extending substantially parallel to its front edge, dimensioned to receive and guide a bowling ball. 7

5. In combination, a seat structure including a seat member with upright supports therefor, and a platform panel extending between said uprights at a plane above the floor and below said seat member and providing a forwardly open space under the seat unobstructed at the forward edge of said platform, the platform having a shallow groove extending substantially parallel to its front edge and constituting a rack or runway, dimensioned to receive and guide a bowling ball.

ANDREW L. HENKEL.

BURKE M. EWING. 

